Driving mechanism for washing machines



Nov. 27- 1923. 1,475791'3 E. WILLIAMSON Y DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 1. 1922 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iz'avE-Jp z of.

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Nov. 27

H. E. WILLIAMSON DRIVING MECHANISM Eon WASHING MACHINES Filed May 1. 1922 2 SheetBrSheet 2 11 vendor.

EEWHZzZ/wawa Q'eforzzeg' Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UI'TED STATES FEE.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR -WASHING- MACHINES.

Application filed May 1,

tion without the disengagement of gears,

thereby avoiding both the danger of stripping the gears and the resultant noise incident to changing gears.

Another object is to devise means whereby the driving mechanism may be allowed to run continuously and whereby the washing machine may be connected and disconnected at will without stopping the motor.

Other ohjectsand advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, V

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my driving mechanism as applied .to the end of a washinv machine,

*igure 2 is an end elevation of my driving mechanism,

Figure 3 is a top plan view'of my driving mechanism connected to the end of a washing machine,

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of F igure 4, withthe cams being shown in elevation, H 1 I Figure 6 is a cross-section taken on the line 66 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the driving pin,"

Figure 8 is a detail cross-section showing the manner of operating the driving pin, 7

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of the reverse cams,

F'gure 10,is a detail perspective view of a driving arm,

Figure 11 is a detail view partly in cross section of the driving shaft, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary detail view i922; Serial No. 557,565.

showing the manner of moving the driving shaft, 1 1

In the washing of clothes, in a rotary tumbler, it is essential that the direction of rotation of the tumbler be reversed in order that the clothes may be agitated so as to remove the dirt therefrom. This reverse movement, I propose to accomplish by placing gears on the driving shaft, which gears will rotate in opposite directions, the same being in constant mesh with a driving pinion. 1 then intermittently connect the drivingshaft to either of the gears.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 14 designates a tank which is of the ordinary construction andadapted to receive a rotary tumbler 16. Thlstumbler is provided upon each of its ends with a circular boss, 17. This boss is provided with a squared hole therein, which hole is adapted to be engaged with the squared end 18 0f the driving shaft 19. In order-to support the tumbler 16 ithin'the tank 14,1 provide substantially U shapedbearings 21, the result being that after thedriving shaft 19 has been disengaged from the boss with which it is engaged, the tumbler as a whole may be liftedfrom the tank if desired. I

A suitable frame composed of uprights 22 and 23, cross-pieces 24, 26 and 27 serve to supportthe driving mechanism as will. be

hereinafter seen. Theshaft 19 is supported in bearings 28 and 29 formed integral with the cross-piece 28.. The outer extremity of this shaft 19 is provided with an annular groove 81 which is adapted to receive a pin 82 carried upon a disc 33. This disc is in turn secured to a rod 34 terminating in a tion is that as the handle 36 is rotated," the squared end 18 into and out of engagement with the boss 1'7. Mounted upon this shaft 19 is a driving arm 37 (see Figure 10) where it will be noted that channels 38 and 39am provided for the reception of a pin 41' secured in the shaft 19. This allows the shaft 19 to slidefin the farm 87. This feature is best shown in Figure 11,

Positioned upon the shaft 19 and upon each side of the driving arm 37 are gears 42 and 43. These gears are provided with teeth which teeth are adapted to mesh with a spur gear 44. Each of. the gears 42 and 43 are handle 36. The purpose of this construc-i ing pin 48 (see Figures 7 and'8) where it' 7 will be notedthat the pin is provided with inclined ends, which ends are adapted to alternately move into the orifice 47 in the gears 42 and 43. In order to prevent the V drivingpin 48 from rotating, I provide a pin 49 which is adapted to pass through the arm 37 and into a slot formed in the pin 48, and, to accomplish this movement of the pin 48 from one gear to the other, I provide came 51 and 52.

It will be noted that these cams are each provided with an inclined face as shown at 53 and 54, which inclined faces are opposed one to the other. The result of this construction is that as the inclined ends of the pin 48 strike the inclined surface 54 of the cam 51, the pin 48 will be caused to'move into the path of the gear 42 and as this gear constantly moves in one direction, the pin 48' will be moved entirely around its orbit and into contact with the inclined face 53 of the cam 52 whichwill then move the pin 48 in the opposite direction and into driving contact with the gear 43, it being understood that these gears are continuously rotated in opposite directions as shown by the arrow adjacent thereto. This driving as before mentioned is accomplished through the spur gear 44 which is in turn driven bya shaft 56, which shaft is provided with a driving pulley 57 over which a belt 58 passes. This belt is in turn driven by a pulley 59 secured upon the shaft of a motor 61.. i

- At 62 I have shown a bearing for'the shaft 56, which bearing is rotatably secured in the cross-piece 26 as by a pivot 63. In order to maintain this bearing in proper alignment, I provide bolts 64 (see Figure 4) which are adapted to have their heads bear on opposite ends of the bearings 62. An additional spur gear 66 is mounted adjacent the gear 44 and is adapted to mesh with a spur gear 67. This spur gear is adapted to drive a shaft 68,

which is enclosed within a housing 69. This housing carries at its upper end a wringer 71 of the usual construction.

The operation of my device is as follows 7 Assuming that the motor 61 has been started, power will be transmitted through -the pulley 59, belt 58, pulley 57, shaft 56 gear 44 to the gears 42 and 43. The driving arm 37 will now be reciprocated, first one revolution in one direction and then a revolution in the opposite direction. This reversing of the movement of the arm will be accomplished through the medium of the driving pin 48 having beveled ends which will first be brought in contact with one of the cams as for instance 53 and which will cause the pin to be slid sideways so as to engage the opposite gear. Should this pin fail to register with the orifices 47 in the opposite gear, the pin will not enter the space between the spokes 46 but will ride upon the solid metal adjacent the periphery. As soon as the orifice 47 inthe'opposite gear does come in line, the cam with which the pin in contacted will complete the movement of the pin and the driving arm 37 will then take up its opposite direction of rotation. This rotation in opposite direction will be transmitted to the tumbler 16 through the medium of the pin 41 carried in the shaft 19. If it is desired to disengage the shaft 19 from the tumbler for the purpose of stopping the rotation thereof, the handle 36 is moved so as to transmit motion to the disc 33 which rotation will, through the pin 32 and the annular groove 31, cause the shaft 19 to be withdrawn from engagement'with the circular boss 17. Thus it will be seen that I have produced a movementfor washing machines which is extremely simple and one which is fool proof and consequently free from danger of strip-ping gears.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described by invention, I claim I In a washing'machine' mechanism, the

combination with a shaft, meansfor moving said shaft endwise, a tumbler, bosses secured on the ends of said tumbler, means for engaging one of said bosses with said shaft, gears freely mounted on said shaft, a driving gear meshing with said gears, and adapted to rotate said gears in opposite'directi'ons,

cams mounted between'said gears, a driving shaft and arm slidably keyed to said adapted to rotate therewith, and a pin slidably mounted in said driving arm, said pin being adapted to alternately engageeither" of said gears, said engagement being caused by movement transmitted through said cams.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HERBERT E. WILLIAMSON. 

